Arctic fox or red fox?
How to tell them apart
The Arctic fox is smaller than the red fox, with a rounder body and white winter coat.
Quick answers
They differ on 2 of the 8 quick answers: awake when, do people eat it.
| Question | Arctic fox | Red fox |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Mammal | Mammal |
| Carnivore? | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Dangerous? | No | No |
| Domesticated? | No | No |
| Awake when? differs | Day & night | Night |
| Hibernates? | No | No |
| Kept as a pet? | No | No |
| Do people eat it? differs | In places | No |
At a glance
| Question | Arctic fox | Red fox |
|---|---|---|
| Found in differs | Arctic | Europe, North America, Asia |
| Habitat differs | Polar, Coast, Mountains | Forest, Grassland, Farmland, Towns |
| Size differs | Small | Medium |
| Length differs | 46–68 cm | 45–90 cm plus a 30–55 cm tail |
| Height differs | – | 35–50 cm at the shoulder |
| Weight differs | About 5.2 kg (average) | – |
| Legs | 4 | 4 |
| Covered in | Fur | Fur |
| Lives differs | In families | Alone |
| Lives for differs | 3–6 years | 3–5 years |
| Can fly | No | No |
| Swims | Yes | Yes |
| Lays eggs | No | No |
About each
Arctic fox
A small fox of the Arctic tundra with thick fur and a big, fluffy tail. The common form is brown in summer and turns white in winter to blend in with the snow.
Everything on the Arctic fox page
Red fox
The familiar orange fox of the northern hemisphere and the most widespread wild carnivore on Earth. A solitary hunter of small animals that has moved into farmland and cities.
Everything on the red fox page
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Side by side.